One Word: Maaaannnnggggoooo! Since moving to California (35+ years ago…) I have become a mango fiend.  I don’t think I’d ever even tasted a fresh one back in the day.  But if I could have a mango every day, I would.  And they are gorgeous right now!   I love to add mango to lots

Supporting Children and Families at Risk Recently Lassen’s was once again part of the wonderful Casa Pacifica Wine, Food & Brew Festival.  Our team set up a display of crackers, cheeses, iced herbal tea, on-the-tap kombucha, and more.  Supporters of Casa Pacifica could taste as much as they would like, and our team had a

Forty-Four Years and Going Strong! Look!  Lassen’s was big on samples even way back in the beginning! After working at a local Health Food store, Oda Lassen thought she cold do a better job so she decided–in her fifties!–to open her own.  It was 1971 in the small town of Camarillo, California.  Her husband, Hilmar,

I Made Bonbons.  And Ate Them. Coconut covered in dark chocolate were my bonbons today.  Simple.  Beautiful. Tasty. And fairly healthy, since I made them myself.  Small indulgences like this sometimes are all it takes to make a blah day better! This recipe makes about 12 coconut bites. You’ll Need: 2 cups unsweetened finely shredded

Is That Even Possible? Sarah grew up watching her dad crabbing and clamming on Cape Cod.  She was more of a catch-and-release kind of girl, but nevertheless benefitted from the healthy fresh seafood of her childhood.  She grew to love the sea and everything about it.  She earned degrees in Marine Biology, and started to

There’s Nothing Like Them! Many years ago we came upon a fruit stand on a rural road.  We stopped and got a box–probably close to 20 pounds–of peaches.  They were the sweetest I’ve ever tasted, and I’ve had a few peaches in my day!  We planned to bottle some of them, but ended up eating

Hot Summer Afternoons Need This! With this photo, no words are necessary. You’ll Need: 1 & 1/2 cup organic watermelon juice of 1/2 organic lime 2 large organic mint leaves 1/4 cup Kombucha–I used GT’s  Guava Goddess Instructions: Blend the watermelon, lime juice, and mint leaves in a blender, and then freeze until quite firm When

White Chocolate Yogurt Berry Cups I like to have a little something sweet to serve for holidays, and these little cups of sweetness look so pretty and are a lot of fun. I’ve gone a little crazy with the yogurt theme the past few weeks, but the beautiful white is such a great backdrop for

Fun for the Young-uns!   One of the favorite treats my kids loved growing up were frozen push-pops. I didn’t think of doing this at the time, but I found a great popsicle mold at World Market this week, and thought I’d make something fun for the kidlets!  Yogurt and fruit–yum!   You’ll Need: Plain

And It Looks Fantastic, Too! My default salads always include cucumbers and tomatoes, and both are so wonderful right now that I’m taking advantage of their deliciousness.  Here’s a beautiful salad and even looks a little patriotic!  Take it on a picnic or to a potluck, and the reviews will be rave! You’ll Need: 1

Just Looking at this Parfait Will Make You Feel Patriotic! For a little fun this 4th of July, add this fun parfait to your breakfast or lunch menu!  It’s simple to put together, and here’s a recipe for a healthy, lower fat granola for the crunch! Applesauce Granola You’ll Need: 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

Raise Your Hand if You Know Why it’s Better to Eat Healthy! Recently our Echo Park store rang with the happy sounds of kids learning about making healthy choices.  Dana and Raymond led the children from a local school around the store, pointing out various ways we can choose to live healthier lives. They started